MAKS-2013 lived up to and surpassed expectations

The Mikoyan MiG-35 is a further development of the MiG-29 technology. Source: Sergei Mikheev

Our RBTH correspondent spent two days at the 11th International Air and Space Salon, MAKS-2013, which took place at Zhukovsky in Moscow Region on Aug. 27–Sept. 1. How did the airshow surprise its visitors this year?

From the very beginning, organizers of
MAKS-2013 announced that this year’s airshow would become a unique event and
surpass other world-renowned airshows in a number of ways. Records were
expected in terms of both visitor numbers and elements of the flying program.

The forecasts proved to be correct:
According to preliminary figures, on Aug. 31 alone (the peak day for visitors),
numbers reached more than 165,000 people. This is a record number in the entire
history of MAKS. The population of Zhukovsky, where the airshow took place, is
around 100,000 people.

The majority of visitors came to MAKS
because of the unique flying program. The huge viewing area to one side of the
runway, as well as almost the entire exhibition area (on the days when it was
open to all visitors), was full of people. Those who were not able to find a
place in the viewing area used all accessible natural and unnatural vantage
points, including the steps for nearby aircraft in the park.

There was much to see. The fifth
generation T-50 PAK-FA fighters were the highlight of the flying display. This
aircraft had been demonstrated to visitors before—but only one model, and
without performing aerobatic maneuvers. A trio of aircraft performed a display
this time. Immediately after the flying display by the three aircraft, the
decorated Hero of the Russian Federation and test pilot of the T-50, Sergei
Bogdan, performed a six-minute aerobatic display.

Aside from the innovations from the
aeronautical sector, the organizers of MAKS included historic exhibits in the
static display this year. Almost all the well-known, Soviet-era aircraft were
on show. Among them was the supersonic Tu-144 passenger airliner, which never
entered service with Soviet airlines and which airshow visitors were able to
look around at their leisure. Another example of Soviet technology was the huge
VM-T Atlant transport aircraft. In the ‘80s, this was used to transport missile
and space technology from the manufacturer’s airfields to the Baikonur
Cosmodrome.

The world’s largest passenger
aircraft—the Airbus A-380—also took part in the flying display. Despite the
airliner’s huge size and weight, the A-380 deftly kept all its turns well
within the airfield boundary. Due to clouds, the giant aircraft had to perform
at low level, making its maneuvers even more impressive.

A surprise for visitors was the display
by the People’s Liberation Army Air Force display team, “1st of August.” The team was
named after the anniversary of the formation of the Chinese People’s Liberation
Army. Chinese aircraft had never performed at any of the other open-aviation
events in Russia. The 1st of August pilots brought five of their
high-speed, fourth-generation, J-10 fighters, which were fitted with Russian
engines.

To MAKS regulars, who are used to
aerobatic maneuvers performed by Russian, American and European teams, the
display by the Chinese team may have appeared unusual: The difference in style
was noticeable, and not just to specialists. No one can say that the Chinese
flew their aircraft better or worse than the Russians or Europeans, as much as
they somehow flew in their own way—the Chinese way.

The display by the well-known Russian
aerobatic display teams—“Russkiye Vityazi” (Russian Knights) and the “Strizhi”
(Swifts)—drew the greatest adoration from the crowd. Russkiye Vityazi is the
only aerobatic display team in the world that operates the Su-27P and Su-27UB
heavy fighters. The Strizhi operate the highly maneuverable, multi-role MiG-29.

The expanded helicopter program was also
a feature of MAKS-2013. The debut display by the Russian Air Force aerobatic
display team, the “Berkuty” (Golden Eagles), flying the Mi-28N attack
helicopter was especially successful. This is one of the few helicopter teams
in the world that demonstrates maneuvers at average and high levels of
complexity, in both vertical and horizontal planes at exceptionally low levels.

The display by the Mi-2 helicopter was a
real masterpiece of aerobatics. Watching the pilot’s virtuoso performance and
the routine he performed, viewers got the impression that he had learned how to
temporarily switch off gravity.

Despite the fact that MAKS is
traditionally considered an aviation exhibition, considerable space was given
over to aviation’s true antagonists—air defense systems. Specifically, this was
not the first time that the Club-K container missile system was exhibited at
the show. The system is made to look like an ordinary sea container, but a
launch assembly with four cruise missiles is stored inside. In its assembled
form, it is practically impossible to distinguish it from thousands of other
containers.

A prototype of the manned, re-usable
transport spacecraft RKK Energiya (exhibited at MAKS-2013 at the Roscosmos
pavilion) was a space systems innovation. According to its manufacturers, the
spacecraft incorporates all the most modern technical solutions and
developments, which allow it to compete with the Orion developed in the United
States. The spacecraft is designed for nine cosmonauts and a 1,100-pounds
payload. It has been proposed that this spacecraft could also be used to take
people to the Moon.

These were, however, just one percent of
the innovations presented at MAKS-2013. The number of technical exhibits
gathered together in the pavilions numbered in the thousands. If all this is
anything to go by, new records are to be expected of the next MAKS, which will
take place in 2015.